B.A. in Leadership Studies

Lead the Way With a Bachelor in Leadership Studies

You’ve got goals. And you want a degree that gives you the skills to achieve them. Regent’s Bachelor of Arts in Leadership Studies can equip you with a solid foundation in innovative leadership, ethics, strategic planning, and decision-making—preparing you to lead with excellence in a multitude of roles. You can explore key concepts and theories such as leader-member exchange (LMX), servant leadership, and transformational leadership. You can also choose one of six concentrations that best aligns with your career goals.

Location: Online

Total Credit Hours: 120+

Next Session Start: January 13, 2025

Approved Degree Plan: Download PDF

Careers | Concentrations | Courses | Admissions | Tuition

GROW YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Identify and analyze complex problems and develop strategies for optimal resolution.

BUILD ON A STRONG FOUNDATION

Anchor your knowledge and skill on Christian principles and values.

LEARN FROM THE BEST

Be mentored by faculty in Virginia Beach who hold the highest degrees in their field.

ALIGN YOURSELF WITH EXCELLENCE

Regent has been ranked among Top National Universities by the U.S. News & World Report for four years (2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023). Our programs have also ranked as the #1 Best Online Bachelor's Programs in Virginia 11 years in a row (2013-2023). Experience the Regent difference through the Bachelor of Arts in Leadership Studies degree program.

B.A. in Leadership Studies Career Opportunities

On completing the B.A. in Leadership Studies degree, you can:

Understand capital management and principles of product, price, promotion, competition, and communication for growth.
Lead with excellence and make strategic decisions.
Understand principles for leading and engaging children, adolescents, and adults for ministry health and growth.
Prepare for graduate studies in business administration and leadership.

Career Opportunities:

Business Administration
Computer Programming or Web Development
Mentorship & Coaching
Network or Systems Administration
Nonprofits or Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
Police or Probation Officer

$57Thousand

Average Business Administrator Salary, 2022 Salary.com

Concentrations

Business

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Leadership Studies – Business program can equip you with a solid foundation in innovative leadership, ethics, strategic planning and decision making. You can also gain expertise in the human relations and reporting sides of business, all from a Christian perspective.

Christian Ministry

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Leadership Studies – Christian Ministry explores how to study and teach the Bible and communicate effectively in the ministry environment. It can equip you with innovative leadership and strategic planning skills to follow your calling.

Criminal Justice

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Leadership Studies – Criminal Justice can equip you with a solid foundation in leadership, strategic planning, ethics, the American criminal justice system and approaches to measure and control crime. Anchor your knowledge and skill on Christian principles and values.

Government & Public Policy

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Leadership Studies – Government & Public Policy focuses on leadership skills, strategic planning, interpreting political data and exploring viewpoints. Choose courses in the judicial system, international relations, state and local government, constitutional law, and more to tailor your degree to best fit your goals.

Information Technology

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Leadership Studies – Information Technology focuses on innovative leadership, technical design, development and management. Learn to analyze a problem and define the computing requirements for its solution. Anchor your knowledge and skill on Christian principles and values.

Self-Designed

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Leadership Studies – Self-Designed allows you to customize your courses to fit your area of interest, and be challenged in problem-solving, creative thinking and principled leadership—all from a Christian perspective. It can prepare you to lead with excellence and make strategic decisions.

Featured Courses

Featured Courses
Code	Name	Credits
LDST 201	Survey of Leadership	3	Exploration of expectancy, leader-member exchange (LMX), transactional, transformational, servant leadership and other theories, including foundational leadership principles and concepts.
LDST 250	Study of Great Leaders	3	Significant historical and contemporary leaders to identify exemplary leadership behaviors and skills to promote strong moral reasoning and wisdom. Prerequisite: LDST 201.
LDST 305	Innovation Leadership	3	The nature, requirements, and beneficial role of entrepreneurial thinking for the leader as innovator in the organization and in society. Prerequisite: LDST 201.
LDST 310	Systems Thinking	3	Introduction to the vocabulary and methodologies associated with the discipline of systems thinking; relationship between the parts of any system, particularly human systems, explores organizational operations and the interaction of various leadership styles and decisions on those operations. Prerequisite: LDST 201.
LDST 330	Ethics	3	Study of the nature of ethical leadership through a consideration of the ethical foundations of leadership principles evident in the lives of great leaders. Attention to how the leader’s values and beliefs affect decision-making along with key factors involved in ethical decision-making. Students assess and apply the concepts of organizational and social responsibility by looking at real world problems. Cross-listed with ACCT 320 and MGMT 330.
LDST 350	Communication & Influence	3	Leader’s behaviors and decisions in sending messages to people throughout the organization. Analysis of the concept of organizational culture, its development, and the effect it has on the leader and people in the organization; focus on a leader’s ability to positively influence followers. Prerequisite: LDST 201.
LDST 370	Managerial Decision-Making	3	Investigate analytical and process skills for effective decision-making and change management. Assess key factors in the change process, effective planning and problem-solving. Cross-listed with MGMT 370.
LDST 425	Leading Teams	3	The influence of virtual teams on leadership effectiveness; the development of interactive and dynamic groups in virtual and face-to-face environments. Prerequisite: LDST 201.
LDST 435	Strategic Planning	3	The process and nature of strategic planning, including the constraints and opportunities leaders face in strategic planning, the leader’s task in accommodating and minimizing these limitations, and the impact of these constraints on strategic choices. Prerequisite: LDST 201.
LDST 440	Organizational Dynamics	3	The concepts, theories, and current practice regarding organizational structures and their development, the dynamics of individual and collective behavior within organizations; human interaction within organizations to foster and manage change. Emphasis on the role of leadership and cultural values. Prerequisite: Junior standing and prior management or leadership coursework.
LDST 498	Senior Leadership Project	3	Capstone project to integrate leadership and the student’s concentration area. Prerequisite: Senior standing.

Admissions Requirements

Step 1: Apply to Regent University

Submit your application at webdev.regent.edu/apply.

Step 2: Submit Your Unofficial Transcripts

Submit your unofficial high school or college transcripts to regent.edu/items.
Upon conditional acceptance, Regent University will attempt to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution.
International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES-approved company.

Step 3: Submit Your Government-Issued ID if Applicable

All online students and graduate level on-campus students are required to submit a photo of your government-issued ID to regent.edu/items.
Please note that all items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.

Step 4: Submit Your FAFSA

Complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentaid.gov Regent’s school code is 030913.

Tuition & Fees

2024-25 Tuition Rates

On Campus

Degree	Tuition Block Rate Per Semester	Credit Hours Per Semester	Tuition Rate Per Year
Students taking on-campus classes (fall & spring semesters)	$9,975	12 - 18	$19,950

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Students taking on-campus classes (fall & spring semesters)	$665	Under 12	$7,980
Students taking on-campus classes (fall & spring semesters)	$665	Over 18	$11,970
Students taking on-campus classes (summer semester)	$665	N/A	$1,995+

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)

$850 (Fall & Spring)
$700 (Summer)

Housing Fees » | Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

Online

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Part-Time Students (3-11 Credit Hours Per Semester)	$450	6	$2,700
Full-Time Students (12+ Credit Hours Per Semester)	$395	12	$4,740

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (Online Students)

$700

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

2023-24 Tuition Rates

On Campus

Degree	Tuition Block Rate Per Semester	Credit Hours Per Semester	Tuition Rate Per Year
Students taking on-campus classes (fall & spring semesters)	$9,493	12 - 18	$18,986

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Students taking on-campus classes (fall & spring semesters)	$630	Under 12	$7,560
Students taking on-campus classes (fall & spring semesters)	$630	Over 18	$11,340
Students taking on-campus classes (summer semester)	$630	N/A	$1,890+

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)

$850 (Fall & Spring)
$700 (Summer)

Housing Fees » | Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

Online

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Part-Time Students (3-11 Credit Hours Per Semester)	$450	6	$2,700
Full-Time Students (12+ Credit Hours Per Semester)	$395	12	$4,740

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (Online Students)

$700

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

FAQ

What is Leadership Studies?

Leadership studies is the study of leadership theory, organizational structuring, and how leadership styles vary between organizations. Leadership studies also involve examining real leaders and finding practical ways to use leadership theories.

Why Study Leadership?

Leadership studies is the study of people and how to best communicate with them. Studying leadership teaches how to understand people and mediate instances where motivations and goals can collide. Various mediation techniques are practical in organizations you might consult or work for. Through learning about leadership, you will learn about yourself and others.

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“Thanks to Regent, I finished my degree and took hold of my future.”

Mandy Rogers, 2010

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